Ladle



April 22, 1930. w. H. PEIRCE LADLE Filed May 10, 1928 avwemgcrt pg JI fm Patented Apr. 22, 1939 PATENT WILLIAM H; PEIRCE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOE TO AMERICAN SMELTING & REFINING COMPANY, QF NEVI YORK, I T."Y., GQRPORATIOII OF NEW JERSEY LADLE Application filed May 10,

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for casting metals and more particularly to a pouring ladle having means associated therewith for completely filling a,

mould to a uniform thickness;

0 by means of which the anode is supported,

difficulty has been experienced in completely filling the various parts of the mould to a uniform level before an undesired amount of cooling has taken place. It is commonly desirable to use a mould formed of material which is a good conductor of heat and also" to pour the metal at a temperature not greatly above its melting point. The mould in this case quickly absorbs the excess heat of the metal. thereby causing the same to rapidly solidify. he metal may become viscous ,before it reaches the portions of the mould farthest away from the point of pouring with the result that these portions of the completed casting are thinner than the remainder thereof.

The present invention provides a new and improved pouring means whereby the metal is rapidly directed toward the remote recesses of the mould and is caused to fill the entire mould to a uniform thickness. The apparatus used for the delivery of the metal from its original source to the mould has been styled a pouring ladle but is intended to include any equivalentdevice such as a spoon or a runner. The ladle is so designed that the molten metal flows in a plurality of directions which are determined by the peculiarities of the particular casting involved. The invention further provides for varying the distribution of the metal during the pouring operation. This is accomplished by providing means for changing the direction of pour ing in accordance with the angle of inclination of the ladle and variably tipping the ladle after a portion of the metal has been removed therefrom.

The invention. also consists in certain new and original features of construction and 122s. SerialNo. 278,552;

combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed; to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may he better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection th theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of the pouring ladle and mould, showing the relative positions of the parts.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the position of the olten metal at the initiation of the pouring operation, and

Fig. is a sectional view showing the ladle tilted and illustrating the distribution of the molten metal. 7

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail; the invention is shown as comprising a pouring ladle 10 formed with a dished portion 11 which is adaptedto receive molten metal 12 from any suitable source. The ladle is provided with an extended spout 13 by means of which the metal is directed onto a mould 14. The end of spout 13 is provided with an apex" ture 15 through which the molten metal is passed onto the mould. Adjacent said aperture and at the extreme end of spout 13 is pro vided a downwardly extending and rearwardly inclined flange 16 for a purpose to be set forth. I

1 Mould 14 has been shown by way of example as of a suitable shape for the casting of electrolytic anodes which comprise a body. portion 17 and outwardly extending lugs 18. The pouring ladle 10 is so located that aperture 15 therein lies over the central portion ofmould 14 whereby the molten metal is in.-

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troduced into the mould centrally thereof and may spread substantially equally in all directions.

During the pouring operation, the ladle is commonly filled to a sufliciently high level so that the metal flows through aperture '15 onto mould l l while the ladle-is in a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2.

'tlle'll'l'Ot'l'lCl. Ithas'been found that'by tilting the pouring "ladle at'the correct time with respect to the cooling gradient of the metal, the mould may befilled to a uniform depth throughout its entire area. g

V In carrying on this process it is essential to so form rearwardly incline-l flange 16' with respect to aperture 15 that the necessary portion of the metal is deflected toward the remote corners of the mould while at the same time the remainder -of the metal is allowed to spread out over the entiresurface thereof.

" The relationship between the quantities of metal flowing in the various directions de" pends upon the size and location of the recesses of the mold and upon the rapidity with which the metal is allowed to cool .to the point at which it becomes viscous. It has been found that by suitably selecting the mechanical dimensions :of the mold and controlling the tilting thereof, pouring of metallic anodes has been greatly simplified and a more uniform product hasbeen obtained.

Although theinvention has been shown and described as applying to a particular type-of mould, it is obviously not limited thereto but is equally applicable to casting operations in general wher it is desired to control the distribution of the metal in a predetermined manner. 7

YVhat is claimed is l. .A pouring ladle for moulding operations having an outwardly extending spout,

means in said spout for permitting metal to bedischarge-d verticallyand means associated wvith said spout whereby whensaid ladle :is

tilted a portion of the poured metal is directed .rearwardly wof saidzspout. V

2. 'In-a pouring ladle forcasting operations a forwardly extendedzspout having an aper fture therein ithr'ouglr which molten metalm'ay pass and a downwardly extending flange loca ted -forwardly of said aperture and adapted "to "contest with the metal "passing therethrough for changing the direction of flow thereof.

3. A pouring ladle comprising a body portion adapted to receive fluid material, a spout having means associated therewith for dis charging said material and a downwardly extending flange associated wlth said spout and adapted to contact with the discharged material for directing a portion thereof in a direction opposed to the direction of flow in said spout.

. 4:. In combination with a pouring ladle, an

outwardly'extendingspout having an aperture therein for the discharge of fluid material, a downwardly extending and rearwardly inclined flange located adjacent said aperture and adapted to contact with the discharged fiuid when said ladle is tilted to a predetermined position.

5. In combination with a mould having remote recesses therein, a pouring ladle, means associated with said ladle for normally discharging the casting metal centrally of said mould and means'for directing a portion of said metal toward said recesses when the viscosity thereof has been increased by cooling.

In testimony whereof 'il'have hereunto set my hand.

VVILLIAM PEIRCE. 

